By Lee Hyo-sik
A Korean Air flight bound for Cheongju International Airport from Jeju Island was forced to abort takeoff and return to the terminal last Friday after a drunken passenger refused to wear his seat belt and physically assaulted a female flight attendant. He also demanded alcohol and cigarettes.
According to the Jeju Airport Police, a 46-year-old man named Park was booked without physical detention on charges of assaulting a flight attendant and violating the aviation safety and security law.
Korean Air flight 1954, scheduled to depart from Jeju International Airport at 11:30 a.m. Friday, was approaching the runaway for takeoff until the passenger, Park refused to wear a seat belt and asked a 42-year-old flight attendant surnamed Lee to serve him alcohol.
As his demand was rejected, he yelled at Lee and kicked her, according to flight crew and other passengers.
Pilots decided not to take off and returned to the passenger terminal.
Park was then handed over to the airport police. Due to the incident, the 55 remaining passengers were required to deplane and repeat the boarding process.
The plane departed at 12:07 a.m., 37 minutes behind schedule.
Under the law, smoking cigarettes on the plane, drinking alcohol excessively and endangering the safety of other passengers, or causing other disturbances are subject to a maximum 5-million won fine.